Load discharging car



Sept. 15, 1931. -A. CAMPBELL 1,823,029

LOAD DISCHARCTING CAR Filed Jan. 16 1930 k zg ' s Sheets-Sheet 2 ii|| l||||| JJ Y Zn-den Z02" Sept. 15, 1931. =A. CAMPBELL LOAD DISGHARGING CAR Filed Jan. 16, 1930 3 Shuts-Sheet 3 F7? U672 for Qz gfglie Camp'e/Z 69 Patented. Sept. 15, 1931 UN ITED STATES PATENT GFFICE ARGYLTE. CAMPBELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOES, ASSZ'GNOR T ENTERPRISE RAILWAY EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLENOIS, A CGRPQRATIGN OF ILLINOIS LOAD DISCHARGING CAR Application filed January 16, 1930'. Serial No, 421,110.

My invention relates to improvements in. load discharging cars.

My invention particularly relates to improvements having the object of adapting a 1 standard type of coal car into a car suitable for the distribution of ballast and the placement of the same at the sides of the rails and free thereof.

It is an object of my invention to provide diverting means beneath discharge openings in the floor oi the car for the purpose of dividing the discharging material in piles onopposite sides of and free of the rails and to securely maintain sa1d diverting means against lengthwise movement as the car moves through ballast.

It is also an object of my invention to provide improved material diverting means having movable door stops associated therewith ii for the purpose of arresting the opening of a dumping door and providing for Various degrees of door opening.

It. is a further object of my invention to associate linkage supporting means with one end of a diverting member for the purpose of initiating vertical movement of said diverting member as the door is moved towards :iii ing drawings wherein my improvements are shown as applied to a hopper car, of thetype commonly known as a quadruple hopper car. In said drawings, Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional elevatioi'ia'l 1= view of the lower portion of a car embodying my improvements and showing the arrangement of hoppers intermediate the wheels of the car, said view being taken slightly to one side of the center sill, said figure. being broken and shown in two sections, the left hand half of the figure being shown at the upper portion of the sheet and the right hand portion shown below;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional no view showing slightly more than one half the width of the car and taken on the line 2?2 of Fig. 1, certain parts of the doors being broken away to more clearly illustrate. the parts more directly concerned with my improvements Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view take on line 33 of Fig. 1; i

Fig. 4- is a view showing on an enlarged scale so much of Fig. 1 as to illustrate one of the end doors and construction associated therewith Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view substantially on theline 55 of Fig. 4, said view showing slightly more than half the width of the car. I

In the embodiment of the invention shown, my improvements are applied to a car of the hopper type wherein the discharge openings extend generally transversely of the car and the bottom walls slope longitudinally of the car downwardly towards the discharge openings, the car having a center sill surmounted by a central ridge and formed with hoppers, arranged in pairs transversely of the car. It is obvious, however, that such improvements might be applied to other types ofcars or other arrangements of hoppers and doors,

In the drawings, Fig. 1, the side Walls of the car are indicated broadly by the refer-. ence character A; the center sill by the refer ence character B; and transverse crossbeam members by the reference characters C. The hopper car is provided intermediate the wheels of the car with a longitudinal series of four hoppers on each side of the center sill, the two end hoppers being designated gen.-. erally by the reference characters D.D and the two intermediate hoppers by the refer.- ence characters E-E.

Each of said hoppers is defined by the sloping bottom sheet 10, the inner substantially triangular side hopper sheet 11, the outer inwardly sloping side hopper sheet 12, and a transversely extending ridge sheet 13, the latter being secured at its ends to the side sheets 11 and 12 and along its upper edge to the adjacent transverse crossbeam member G.

Each sloping bottom sheet is preferably suitably reinforced at its bottom free edge by an angle iron 14, and similarly each bottom edge of the ridge sheet 13 is reinforced by reinforcing member F, Figs. & and 5, secured to the under side thereof. Each said reinforcing member F is preferably of cast metal with an integral flange portion 15 at one end whereby connection is effected With the center sill, and at its opposite end an integral flange portion 16 connects with and overlies the outer hopper sheet 12.

The member F is provided with a plurality of lugs 17 to which a dumping door G is mounted, each door being preferably formed of cast metal and formed with integral lugs 117 adapted to intercalate with the lugs 17 and pivotally mounted thereon on pintles 18. The rear edge of the door is concentrically formed, as indicated at 19, Fig. 4, with respect to the pivotal center thereof.

While I have shown doors on only one side of the car, it will be understood that the structure is duplicated on opposite sides of the center sill and the doors and hoppers are therefore arranged in pairs in transversely aligned relation on opposite sides of the center sill. The center sill is provided with a surmounting ridge 20, Figs. 2 and 3, adapted to direct lading to the respective hoppers and render the car self-clearing.

Preferably each pair of transversely aligned doors G is rigidly connected by suitable cross bracing as indicated at 21, so that the doors of the pair may be operated simultaneously by means of suitable door operating mechanism H actuated from an operating shaft 22 which is extended to the side of the car and there operated by suitable operating mechanism (not shown).

Each transversely extending crossmember preferably includes a vertical gusset plate 23 on each side of the center sill, and angle members 2424 respectively disposed on the opposite sides of said plate and secured thereto, said angles extending transversely across the plane of the center sill and beneath the same.

The arrangement of discharge opening and doors for the hopper is such that normal ly on the opening movement of the door the discharged material is deposited in piles on the ground extending generally transversely of the car above the rails, and in carrying out my invention I employ deflecting members J and K respectively disposed at the ends of the car and intermediately thereof. These members are formed with a body portion of appreciable width and disposed in the path of the discharging load and above the rails and thus serve to divide the discharging material into piles on either side of the rails and free thereof.

The deflecting members, which may be of any desired form, are preferably mounted in fixed relation with the lower portion of the stationary floor sections 10. A preferred manner of mounting the said deflecting members on the car structure consists in providing a hingle-like connection with the lower edge of the stationary floor, and extending the opposite end of the deflecting members beneath the doors and supporting the same on the opposite side of the doors.

In carrying out this construction, a pair of brackets 25 are preferably secured to the lower portion of the sloping floor plate 10 and to the reinforcing member 14, and a pair of straps 26 are secured to the deflecting member. The pair of straps are spaced apart on the deflecting member a sufficient distance to lie between and adjacent to the brackets 25 and thus prevent undue sidewise movement of the parts. A rod or bolt 27 passes through the brackets 25 and straps 26, and a ferrule 28, Figs. 2 and 3, is adapted to fill the space intermediate the straps. The diverting members each include a body portion disposed below the door when in open position and extending substantially horizontally, and an angularly disposed portion sloping upwardly from said horizontal portion to the sloping floor and adapted to bridge the distance from the free edge of the sloping floor to the horizontal section, said horizontal portion for the member J being indicated at 29 and for members K at 30, Fig. 1. The upwardly sloping portion for member J is indicated at 31 and for member K at 32.

The diverting member J is supported rear wardly of the door by supporting means preferably cooperating with the door and supported thereby. Said supporting means preferably include a pair of links 3333 pivotally mounted on pins 34, carried by lugs 35, the latter being formed integrally with the door. Connection between the links 3333 and the free end of the diverting member J is effected by a pivotal connection carried out by a rod or bolt 36 which extends through the pair of links 3333 and through a pair of hinge straps 37, the latter being fixedly secured to the diverting member and spaced apart an appreciable distance and maintained in spaced relation by a ferrule 137.

At each side of the sloping portion 31, the diverting member is preferably provided with depending walls 38 for the purpose of providing baffles to prevent flooding of the rails by the discharging material; said baflies are preferably extended downwardly a sufficient distance to provide a continuation of the main horizontal body portion and thus serve to provide even piles of material on 4 each side of the deflecting member.

' As will be noted by reference to Fig. 1, the two intermediate hoppers are disposed in opposed relation and in such close proximity to each other as to permit the attachment of both ends directly to the lower portion of the sloping floor 10 in the manner heretofore described, the member K being extended between the hoppers and supporting structure employed at each end being identical. The said member K is provided with side rigiditying flanges 39, and at each endofsaid member depending battle plates 40l0 are provided. Intermediate its ends, the member K is provided with auxiliary supporting means which cooperate with one of the transverse crossbeam members C, said supporting means includes a strap-like member 41 connected with the car structure through the medium of bolt l2 carried on bracket 43, the latter straddling the pair of angle members 242el of the cross-member C.

Connection between the lower portion of the strap 41 and the diverting member K is effected through the medium of bolt 44 carried by bracket 45, the latter being rigidly secured to the member K. Said strap member 41 is of rugged construction and operates as a door stop to limit the opening movement of the door.

Under ordinary conditions of ballasting, the extent of door opening may be regulated by turning movement of the shaft 22 inasmuch as cars of the identified type are usual- 1y provided with pawl and ratchet arrangement on the end of the shaft permitting either partial or full opening movement-of the door. In instances, however, where the door operating devices are not provided with ratchet and pawl arrangement or other device which permits a graduated opening, the diverting or deflecting members are provided with a series of spaced perforations 46 adapted to receive a removable door stop pin 47 for the purpose of limiting opening movement of the door and maintaining the same in a number of difi'erent posit-ions. However, if desired, the door stop pins 47 and the perforations may be provided in addition to the operating mechanism, so that both means may be used for limiting the door movement.

The operation of my improved device is as follows:

Considering, first, the operation of the end doors. assuming that the doors are closed and in locked position, as indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 1 and L. The operator rotates the shaft 22 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. I, and the doors of the pair swing open on their hinges until such time as the door brace comes in contact with links 3333, thereby limiting opening movement of the doors to a substantially vertical position. During the opening movement of the door, the links drop slightly, permitting one end of the deflecting member J to drop cor respondingly therewith, the extent of said movement being indicated in the left hand portion of Fig. 1, where the door and associated parts is indicated in closed position by dotted lines and in the open position by full lines. The discharging material is then r deflected to either side of the deflecting memher and slopes down from the sides of the deflecting member to either side of the rail 48and clear thereof, the slopes of such discharging material being indicated by the broken lines 49, Figs. 2 and 3, thus leaving ample space for the passage of the wheels 50 of the car without the need of further shoveling.

WVith the door fully opened and the defleeting member in position beneath the door, the car may now be moved forward, and as movement of the car progresses the ballast is leveled "by the door G and its associated brace member 21, and the material is thus deposited in longitudinal piles on opposite sides of the rails i8. As the car moves for ward and the deflecting members J and K plow through the ballast, it will be appreciated thatconsiderable strainis imposed on the parts and it is therefore highly desirable that the parts should have at least one point of fixed attachment with the car structure in order to prevent the parts from being-torn ed. The operation of the doors on the intermediate hoppers is carried out in a manner similar to that described in connection with the end doors.

The arrangement used in connection with the end doors may also be usedon the intermediate doors if so desired, in place of the embodiment shown.

The arrangement of the heavy door hinge bracing member F, combined with a. sturdy door of heavy cast metal, provides a strong construction well adapted to withstand the heavy service incidental to moving a car through the piles of discharged material.

The doors in open vertical position, as indicated by dotted lines in Figs. v2 and 3 andby full lines in Fig. 5, etl'ectively act as ballast levelers.

My improvements may be readily app-lied to existing cars at a comparatively nominal cost and may be removed at any time it is desired to change the cars from ballast service, or if so desired these improvements may be permanently incorporated in cars and the cars utilized either for coal or ballast service, as may be desired.

I claim;

1. In a railway car of the character described, having a discharge opening, the combination with a fixed floor adapted to direct lading towards said discharge opening, a movable closure member adapted to be positioned in said opening, said member extend.- ing in a direction generally transverse of the car, a load deflecting element extending from the fixed floor across the plane of the closure member, and supporting means for said deflecting element disposed on opposite sides of the closure member, one of said supporting means cooperating with the fixed floorand the other of said supporting means being located beyond the path of movement of the door.

2. In a load dischargin car, the combina- I tion of a floor section, a c oor adapted to coverting member extending from the fixed floor across the plane of the door and rearwardly thereof, and means supporting said diverting member embodying a fixed connection to prevent lengthwise movement of said diverting member on movement of the door.

3. In a railway load discharging car having a discharge opening, the combination of stationary sloping floor extending lengthwise of the car and adapted to direct lading to said discharge opening, a discharge door structure adapted to be positioned in said door opening, said door structure being pivotally mounted on an axis extending transversely of the car, a deflecting member fixedly supported adjacent one of its ends from the stationary floor and extending across the plane of the door and beneath the same, said deflecting member being positioned directly over a rail on which the car is adapted to move, and arranged to divide the discharging material into two piles of material and free of the rail.

4. In a load discharging car, the combination of a sloping floor portion, a door adapted, when closed, to abut the sloping floor portion, said door being adapted for swinging movement on an axis extending transversely of the car, a diverting member supported by said sloping floor portion and positioned beneath the door and extending rearwardly from said floor portion to a point beyond the limit of movement of said door, said member being adapted to deflect the material in the discharge opening to either side of said member.

5. In a railway load discharging car, the combination with a fixed floor member terminating adjacent a door opening and a closure member adapted to be positioned across said opening, said closure member extending generally transversely of the car and movable away from the floor to permit discharge of the load, of a diverting member extending across the plane of the door beyond the free edge of the door for the purpose of deflecting the discharging load, said member being pivotally mounted with respect to one of the members, and a link supporting said diverting member relatively to the other of said members.

6. In a railway dump car having means for discharging load, the combination with a fixed sloping floor and a door adapted when in closed position to cooperate with the said sloping floor to complete a load retaining receptacle, said door ext-ending generally transversely of the cari of a diverting member hingedtothe fixed sloping floor adjacent the edge thereof, said member being adapted to extend across the plane of the door and beyond the limits of movement of said door; and other "supporting meansfor said member, said last named supporting means in: cluding a member adapted to form a stop for the door for the purpose of limiting the opening movement of the door.

7. In a load discharging car, the combination with a sloping floor portion and a door adapted, when closed, to abut the said floor portion, said door being adapted for swinging movement on an axis extending transversely of the car and movable from the floor portion toprovide a discharge opening, of a diverting member positioned beneath the door for the purpose of deflecting the material issuing through the discharge opening, and means associated with said diverting member for limiting'the opening movement of the door in a plurality of diiferent positions. r

8. In a railway car of the hopper type having transversely hinged doors and fixed sloping floors cooperating therewith to complete a hopper, the combination of a member positioned beneath the discharge opening and extending longitudinally of the rail for restricting the extent of door opening and prevent-- ing the discharging material from flowing on the rail, said member having one end thereof disposed in fixed relation with the fixed sloping floor.

9. In a hopper car having a sloping hopper bottom sheet and a hopper door pivotally mounted to swing about its upper edge, the combination of a deflecting member having one end pivotally mounted adjacent the lower end of the sloping hopper bottom sheets, said member extending longitudinally beneath the door and means carried by the door for the purpose of supporting the opposite end or" the deflecting member.

10. In a railway load discharging car, the combination of a fixed floor, a door extending generally transversely of the car, a deflecting member extending beneath the door in the path of the discharge opening, said member being bent to present a body portion disposed substantially parallel with the rail and at an appreciable distance below the edge of the sloping floor, and an angularly related portion extending from said horizontal portion to the free edge of the floor.

11. In a railway hopper car having a series of four hoppers, each including a fixed sloping floor and a door, said hoppers, extending generally transversely of the car and adapted means positioned in the path of the discharge openings to divide the discharged lading lengthwise of the car, said deflecting means for the central doors being extended between and carried by the two opposed hoppers, and said deflecting means for each end door being carried by the associated fixed sloping floor and extended rearwardly of the adjacent door and there supported.

12. In a railway load discharging car, the combination of a pair of hoppers defined by fixed longitudinal sloping floors and doors extending transversely of the car, said fixed floors extending longitudinally towards each other and having the doors disposed to open towards each other, and a member positioned beneath the doors and extending across the plane of both doors for restricting the extent of door opening and preventing the discharging material from flowing onto the rails on which the car is adapted to move.

13. In a railway load discharging car, the combination of a pair of hoppers defined in part by fixed longitudinal sloping floors and doors extending transversely of the car, said fixed floors extending longitudinally towards each other and having the doors of the respective hoppers disposed between said fixed floors, and members positioned beneath the doors above the rails on which the car is adapted to move and extended between the fixed floors and carried thereby, said members being adapted to deflect the material in the car to either side of the rails.

14. In a railway load discharging car, the combination of a pair of hoppers defined by fixed longitudinal sloping floors and doors extending transversely of the car, said fixed floors extending longitudinally towards each other and having the doors of the respective hoppers disposed in opposed relation between said fixed floors, deflecting members positioned beneath the doors above the rails on which the car is adapted to move and extended between the fixed floors and carried thereby, said members being adapted to defleet the material in the car to either side of the rails, and means intermediate the opposed doors adapted to support the said deflecting members.

15. In a load discharging car of the character described, the combination of means providing a discharge opening above the rails upon which the car travels, said discharge opening including a door mounted to swing on an axis extending transversely of the rail, a member positioned beneath the door opening above each rail and adapted to divide the material lengthwise of the car into piles at the side of and free of the rails, said member including a body portion of extended width and having portions thereof disposed at varying levels above the top of the rails, and bafiie portions at the sides of said body portions adapted to maintain the restricting level of the deflecting member at a substan tially uniform level above the top of the ralls.

16. In a car of the character described, the combination of a series of hoppers and doors therefor, said hoppers and doors extending generally transversely of the car, each said 

